Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Gival Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of at least 45 pages with a $20 entry fee by December 15. Send an SASE,...

A prize of $2,000 will be given for a group of poems by a poet who has not published more than one poetry collection. A second-place prize of $1,000 will also be given. The winners will also each receive...

A prize of $250, publication by Bull City Press, 10 author copies, and a fellowship to attend the Frost Place Poetry Seminar (valued at $1,550) is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner also...

A prize of up to $4,000 is given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction published during the previous year by a writer who is a resident of the Midwest (or who previously resided in the...